Tool retention system with external locking mechansim

Abstract

A retention mechanism may have a pin inserted into a retainer pin opening in the adapter. The retention mechanism may also have a spring clip inserted into the tip through a first end of a transverse hole in the tip, and a retainer inserted through a second end of the transverse hole. The retainer may have a retainer body extending from a first axial end to a second axial end. The retainer may have at least one tab extending radially from the retainer body at the first axial end. The at least one tab may engage with a female thread in the transverse hole. The retainer may have at least one detent cutout disposed on an outer surface of the retainer body for receiving a portion of the spring clip. The retainer may also have an axial cavity at the second axial end for receiving one end of the pin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retention mechanism for connecting a ground engaging tip to an adapter, the retention mechanism comprising:
 a pin configured to be inserted into a retainer pin opening in the adapter;   a spring clip configured to be inserted into the tip through a first end of a transverse hole in the tip; and   a retainer configured for insertion through a second end of the transverse hole, the retainer comprising:
 a retainer body extending from a first axial end to a second axial end; 
 at least one tab extending radially from the retainer body at the first axial end, the at least one tab being configured to engage with a female thread in the transverse hole; 
 at least one detent cutout disposed on an outer surface of the retainer body and configured to receive a portion of the spring clip; and 
 an axial cavity at the second axial end configured to receive one end of the pin. 
   
     
     
         2 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab includes a pair of tabs extending radially from the retainer body in opposite directions. 
     
     
         3 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the pin includes:
 an elongated shank;   a first frustoconical lug extending from one end of the elongated shank; and   a second frustoconical lug extending from an opposite end of the elongated shank.   
     
     
         4 . The retention mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the elongated shank of the pin has a non-cylindrical cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pin has a cylindrical cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the axial cavity of the retainer is tapered. 
     
     
         7 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the spring clip includes:
 at least one leg;   a base portion extending perpendicularly from one edge of the at least one leg;   a pair of flexible arms extending from opposite ends of the base portion and configured to engage with the outer surface of the retainer body; and   a detent portion attached to a distal end of each of the flexible arms.   
     
     
         8 . The retention mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the detent portion is configured to engage with the at least one detent cutout of the retainer body. 
     
     
         9 . The retention mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein each of the flexible arms is inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         10 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the female thread includes an external surface extending circumferentially from an external surface of the tip. 
     
     
         11 . The retention mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the female thread extends circumferentially over an angle ranging between 90 degrees and 360 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein
 the retainer is a first retainer, and   the retention mechanism includes a second retainer configured to receive an opposite end of the pin.   
     
     
         13 . The retention mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein
 the transverse hole is first transverse hole,   the tip includes a second transverse hole,   the spring clip is a first spring clip, and   the retention mechanism includes:
 a second spring clip configured to be inserted into the tip through a first end of the second transverse hole, and 
 the second retainer configured to be inserted into the tip through a second end of the second transverse hole. 
   
     
     
         14 . A tip assembly, comprising:
 an adapter configured to be attached to a work implement, the adapter including:
 a nose; and 
 a retainer pin opening extending through the nose; 
   a ground engaging tip configured to be attached to the nose, the tip including:
 a nose cavity configured to receive the nose, the nose cavity defining a pair of side walls spaced apart from each other; 
 a first transverse hole disposed in a first one of the side walls; and 
 a second transverse hole disposed in a second one of the side walls; and 
   a retention mechanism, including:
 a pin configured to be inserted into the retainer pin opening in the nose; 
 a first spring clip configured to be inserted into the first transverse hole; 
 a second spring clip configured to be inserted into the second transverse hole; 
 a first retainer configured for insertion into the first transverse hole, the first retainer configured to engage with the pin; and 
 a second retainer configured for insertion into the second transverse hole, the second retainer configured to engage with the pin. 
   
     
     
         15 . The tip assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pin includes:
 an elongated shank;   a first frustoconical lug extending from one end of the elongated shank; and   a second frustoconical lug extending from an opposite end of the elongated shank.   
     
     
         16 . The tip assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first retainer and the second retainer includes:
 a retainer body extending from a first axial end to a second axial end;   at least one tab extending radially from the retainer body at the first axial end, the at least one tab being configured to engage with a thread in a respective one of the first transverse hole or the second transverse hole;   at least one detent cutout disposed on an outer surface of the retainer body and configured to receive a portion of a respective one of the first spring clip or the second spring clip; and   an axial cavity at the second axial end configured to receive a respective one of the first frustoconical lug or the second frustoconical lug of the pin.   
     
     
         17 . The tip assembly of  claim 16 , wherein
 the elongated shank of the pin has a non-cylindrical cross-section; and   the retainer pin opening in the nose has a non-cylindrical cross-section configured to receive the elongated shank of the pin.   
     
     
         18 . The tip assembly of  claim 16 , wherein
 each of the first spring clip and the second spring clip includes:
 at least one leg; 
 a base portion extending perpendicularly from one edge of the at least one leg; 
 a pair of flexible arms extending from opposite ends of the base portion and configured to engage with the outer surface of the retainer body; and 
 a detent portion attached to a distal end of each of the flexible arms; and 
   an inner surface of the nose cavity includes a cutout configured to receive the at least one leg of a respective one of the first spring clip or the second spring clip.   
     
     
         19 . A retention mechanism, comprising:
 a pin;   a retainer, including:
 a retainer body extending from a first axial end to a second axial end; 
 at least one tab extending radially from the retainer body at the first axial end; 
 at least one detent cutout disposed on an outer surface of the retainer body; and 
 an axial cavity at the second axial end configured to receive one end of the pin; and 
   a spring clip, including:
 at least one leg; 
 a base portion extending perpendicularly from one edge of the at least one leg; 
 a pair of flexible arms extending from opposite ends of the base portion and configured to engage with the outer surface of the retainer body; and 
 a detent portion attached to a distal end of each of the flexible arms, wherein the detent portion is configured to engage with the at least one detent cutout of the retainer. 
   
     
     
         20 . The retention mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one leg of the spring clip is a bottom leg, and the spring clip includes a top leg extending from the base portion and spaced apart from the bottom leg.